How have stem cells been used in medical research?
Skeletal stem cells isolated from bone marrow stromal cells (non-blood forming cells in bone marrow) are able to regenerate all types of skeletal tissues, including cartilage, bone, as well as blood-supportive stromal cells and fat cells in the marrow. In cardiology, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into cardiomyocytes and vascular endothelial cells, and secrete paracrine factors that are both cytoprotective and angiogenic. The ability of these cells to differentiate into specific cell types, as well as their ability to secrete essential substances for cellular growth, function and survival suggests that these cells play an important role in the repair of cardiac disease. Stem cells from the blood have been used extensively in hematology for the treatment of blood dyscrasias and cancers via bone marrow transplantation.
